GG 450Lecture 19 February 26, 2006Ground Penetrating Radar.ppt

* GG 450 Lecture 19 February 26, 2006 Ground Penetrating Radar Background: Contrary to popular belief, GPR or Ground Penetrating/Probing Radar, is not a new technology. The first uses were in Austria in 1929, but the technology was largely abandoned until the late 1950s when U.S. Air Force radars were seeing through ice as planes tried to land in Greenland, misreading the altitude and crashing into the ice. This started investigations into the ability of radar to see into the subsurface not only for ice sounding but also mapping subsoil properties and the water table. GPR systems have been in commercial use for over 30 years. It is only recently that the environmental, construction and utility industries have discovered the multiple uses and benefits of performing GPR surveys to gain forehand knowledge of whats underground and in walls. GPR surveys are now being specified into engineering designs, environmental assessments and maintenance programs. Description: Ground penetrating radar has many similarities with wave propagation methods in subsurface imaging for oil exploration. This analogy has been used to transfer technology from the petroleum industry to the geotechnical arena. The approach does have its limits, as the physical processes involved in signal transmission are very different. Seismic methods use acoustic waves, radar uses electromagnetic waves. Nonetheless, GPR has become one of the instruments of choice for many small site investigations where a metallic object that is shallowly buried, such as an underground gasoline storage tank, must be located. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has established itself as a successful technique for a wide range of shallow ( 50 m) subsurface evaluations. How does GPR work? ??? Ground penetrating radar uses electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering to image, locate and quantitatively identify changes in electrical?and magnetic properties in the ground.? It may be performed from the surface of the eart